Heavenly Cold Master spoke earnestly. "Xinlian, things between Supreme Sages aren't as simple as you imagine."
"I reached the Supreme Sage realm years before you and have cultivated for years longer."
"On the surface, we may both be Supreme Sages."
"But in reality, there's an unseen gap between us."
She was a child he had raised, after all, and Heavenly Cold Master still cared for Liu Xinlian as an elder would.
He would not bristle and glare at her just because she had grown overconfident.
Earth Spirit Leader smiled faintly. "What kind of youngster isn't hotheaded?"
"Old Cold, since she's your disciple, you might as well teach her a lesson."
Once the ranking challenges began, Liu Xinlian would have to challenge the third-ranked Heavenly Cold Master first anyway.
As long as Heavenly Cold Master held his position, Earth Spirit Leader would have no chance to take the field.
So he was simply enjoying himself as a spectator, joining Luo Yu in fanning the flames.
Beside them, Longevity Dao Sage laughed heartily. "I agree. A little lesson is good for the young."
"As her master, Heavenly Cold Master ought to shoulder that responsibility."
"So this ranking challenge is quite fitting in every sense."
Another one fanning the flames!
Longevity Dao Sage figured that with Heavenly Cold Master and Earth Spirit Leader ahead of him, they would take the brunt of it.
No matter what happened, the fire would never reach him.
Even if Liu Xinlian somehow managed the unprecedented feat of beating those two.
He was a second-stage Supreme Sage, qualitatively different from those at the first stage.
However he looked at it, he would not be the one losing face.
"Xinlian, do you insist on proceeding with the ranking challenge?"
Heavenly Cold Master asked.
Liu Xinlian smiled gently. "I just